Voluntary implementation of Additional Protocol will halt, but inspection of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) continues, Zarif added.

In a recently-held interview with Japan’s Kyodo news agency, Zarif said the Majlis law has to be implemented.

When the window closes, Iran will enrich further uranium and promote nuclear development, Zarif told the news agency.

Last day, In an interview with Japan’s Kyodo News, Zarif called Japan an old friend of Iran and noted its good relations with the United States.

“We expect Japan to act as a friend, particularly when it comes to international law,” Zarif said, referring to the illegal nature of the US sanctions.

“Since the United States is violating international law, the best role that Japan can play is to show Americans that Japan will not implement their illegal decisions,” he said.

Zarif specifically called on Japan to unfreeze Iranian assets frozen in Japanese banks due to US sanctions, as a gesture to Iran by the new government of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who came to power last September, Press TV reported.

According to Zarif, frozen assets in Japan and South Korea total close to $10 billion. Japan’s share — mainly revenue from crude oil exports to Japan — is estimated to be just under $3 billion.

Zarif said the unfrozen funds could be used to procure medicines and food, including vaccines for the novel coronavirus.

The post Zarif: Implementation of law on Additional Protocol, Govt’s duty appeared first on Iran News Daily.

TEHRAN (PressTV) – Iran says it will soon begin its “serious” legal pursuit of the leakage of confidential reports prepared by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), after a confidential report by the UN nuclear watchdog on an Iranian facility was leaked to the media.

According To Iran News, Iran’s ambassador and permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Kazem Gharibabadi, said the history of Iran’s legal protests against the IAEA over its failure to preserve confidential information dates back more than two decades.

“All Safeguards and JCPOA reports as well as Iran’s correspondence with the IAEA and vice versa are confidential. The IAEA shares its reports in its internal site, only accessible to its member states,” the Iranian diplomat told the state TV on Saturday.

Gharibabadi said the Islamic Republic has already asked the IAEA to minimize the amount of details it gives its member states in its reports and avoid providing them with non-essential information.

He said in Iran’s view, the IAEA is responsible to protect confidential information, and if there is any flaw in this communication mechanism, it must be revised substantially.

His comments came after Reuters quoted a confidential IAEA report as saying that the Islamic Republic plans to install three more cascades, or clusters, of advanced IR-2m centrifuges in the enrichment plant in the central city of Natanz.

“In a letter dated 2 December 2020, Iran informed the Agency that the operator of the Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP) at Natanz ‘intends to start installation of three cascades of IR-2m centrifuge machines’ at FEP,” the IAEA’s report to its member states said.

In his first reaction to the leakage, Gharibabadi had called on the IAEA to ensure confidentiality of safeguards information.

Gharibabadi wrote, “@iaeaorg confidential report, based on Iran’s confidential letter, appeared in Media immediately even before the BoG Members could track it down,” referring to the IAEA Board of Governors.

Iran’s permanent representative to Vienna-based international organizations calls on the IAEA to ensure confidentiality of safeguards information after a confidential report by the UN nuclear watchdog on the Natanz facility was leaked to the media.

“Agency is not merely responsible to update the development, but shall ensure confidentiality of safeguards information,” he added.

“If neither the Agency nor its Member States are to be blamed for this crack in confidentiality, @iaeaorg should revise its confidentiality mechanisms including regarding using GovAtom as the safe and confidential means for communications.”

GovAtom is a service provided by the IAEA to its Member State representatives. It provides them with online documentation on the work of the Board of Governors and its Committees.

The post Tehran Vows to Legally Pursue Leakage of IAEA Confidential Report appeared first on Iran News Daily.

The open session of Majlis on Tuesday December 1 made history in the seven and half years life of the 11^th and 12^th government, namely, President Hassan Rouhani’s governments. Majlis legislators with 251 votes in favor, in this session and during reviewing the outlines of a draft bill, dubbed the Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions,  for lifting of the sanctions and safeguarding national interests, approved its generalities that the government was totally opposed of its approval.

IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

After the overwhelming approval of the generalities of the draft bill, lawmakers chanted slogans like “Down with the U.S.”, “Down with Israel”, “The blood in our veins, is the gift to our Leader.” The double-urgency draft bill Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions which had been referred to the  National Security and Foreign Policy Committee for further studies, was discussed and  debated there in presence of the related executive bodies and experts of Majlis Research Center, and by ratification of its title and its text, the bill was approved and then the committee’s report in accordance with the Article 161 of Majlis internal status book was handed over to Majlis for voting by legislators. The approved bill pursues goals as follows: The first goal is to undo the locks, inflicted on the national nuclear industry. The second goal is to confront with sanctions which are imposed on Iran by Western countries.

Spokesman to the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Abolfazl Amouei, regarding the committee’s approach, says, “We believe by concentration on bolstering our nuclear program and creating restriction for inspections that today there is no logic behind it, we can stand against the sanctions while all balances in the previous agreements have been ruined. And regarding the base for these inspections from our nuclear centers there is a question and there should be a response to this balance and imbalance.”

Lawmakers’ votes insist on the text and content for Iran’s withdrawal from implementing the additional protocol which has been created in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and any country can accept it voluntarily.

The Islamic Republic of Iran on December 18, 2003, and during Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani’s presidency and just a verbal measure joined the IAEA’s additional protocol. The story behind this was that in October 2003 and during the simultaneous presence of foreign ministers of UK, France and Germany in Tehran (Saad Abad talks). Iranian negotiating team, led by Hassan Rouhani, the then Secretary of Supreme National Security Council, in an action which they called it aimed at trust-building with European states, decided to sign and implement the additional protocol voluntarily and make themselves captive in the claw of IAEA inspections.

After revelation of Majlis decision to present the double-urgency draft bill and its approval, the government spokesman Ali Rabiei expressed the government’s opposition to this bill and said, “The government believes the issue is only in the authority of the Supreme National Security Council, and responsibility for making any decision on the nuclear program and the JCPOA according to the Article 176 of the constitutions is beyond a branch of power and no branch of power cannot by itself act out of this framework and it seems Majlis (legislative power) cannot either enter these issues and the Guardian Council will definitely take it into consideration when it reviews the Majlis approval and it will consider legal restrictions and national expediencies.” Touching upon this issue, President Rouhani officially said, “The government does not agree with the bill passed by the Parliament yesterday, and considers it to be detrimental to diplomatic efforts.”

Touching upon the Majlis approval, the president in the cabinet meeting on Wednesday said the reason for his no show in Majlis for submitting the next year budget was only observing the health protocols recommended by the National Anti-Corona Headquarters, adding, “In this condition it is better to review statistics of the past years carefully. In all fields like nuclear field, the condition that the country is in it is by far better than eight years ago. We have reached  IR8 and IR9 from IR1 and IR2.We today are able to enrich IR2M in different chains. We are also able to have enrichment chain with IR6. Such capabilities have never existed in the country. Today in terms of nuclear field, the country is stronger than any time. In terms of facilities and research and development, our condition is better than any time. We should not enter this issue due to political or electoral competition that I think it is too early, because it makes us to violate the ethics or avoid telling the truth.”

Something which definitely clear is that Iran’s pullout of the voluntary additional protocol  is a right that Iranian nation and especially Majlis should fully consider it and President’s remarks can observe his saving of his actions in drawing his horn during the Saad Abad nuclear talks, and he can also accuse Majlis actions as an electoral gesture which means  Majlis Speaker Muhammad Baqer Qalibaf and his probable candidacy in the 2021 presidential election.

But that the government caution to what extent will be to the national interests will be forcibly be defined in the global reaction of Iran’s enemies. Joe Biden’s arrival at the White House has thickened the government’s precaution as it both does not give any permission for taking revenge regarding assassination of Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh and leaves Majlis high and dry in order that it could not take retaliatory actions regarding the terrorist acts and West’s stance.

  By: Hamid Reza Naghashian

The post Brave Majlis in Claw of the Cautious Gov’t appeared first on Iran News Daily.

The world economic growth is on the decline due to the outbreak of the coronavirus and some people in the world sleep the nights with empty stomachs and wait in miles-long lines to get a piece of food from the food banks. In such a condition, governments have increased the expenditures for expanding their arsenals. While the U.S. and Zionists have been talking for over 30 years about Iran’s so-called secret nuclear activities and probable production and stockpile of nuclear bombs in order to deviate the public opinion and to deceive the international community and members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reports indicate that they themselves have been expanding their capabilities in production and stockpiling weapons of mass destruction, and just the U.S. alone has produced and stockpiled over 6,200 A-bombs with nuclear warheads.

IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

Reports from the reliable sources show that Zionist regime, too, has boosted its arsenal in the past three years and it has increased the number of its A-bombs with nuclear warheads from 77 to 100. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has been founded for conducting research on international peace and its authentic and accurate reports has provided the ground for valid statistical belief. The Swedish think-tank in its recent report, which was released in Stockholm and major important part of it has been covered by the international mass media, has announced that today in the end of 2020, nine countries have stockpiled 13,865 A-bombs that one-fourth of it is enough for annihilating the world.

Following SIPRI’s report, Israeli newspaper the Jerusalem Post in an article wrote, ”Israel has close to 100 nuclear warheads.” While Israel continues its old policy of keeping silence on its nuclear arsenal, according to the Swedish think tank’s report released some three years ago (2017),  this country has some 30 gravity bomb (without guidance system) which can be delivered by fighter jets. Some of these fighter jets are believed to be equipped for nuclear weapon delivery. Irregardless of the number of Israel’s gravity bombs in 2017, the country has had approximately 50 warheads,  that can be delivered by land-based ballistic missiles such as the Jericho III intermediate-range ballistic missile.

In such a condition we are facing with an earsplitting propagation which is constantly trumpeted that Iran has been equipped with nuclear weapon. Such a huge amount of false propagation is spread against a country which has the most transparent nuclear program among the IAEA members. Let’s have a look at the official reports of the IAEA in the world and all of them says, “22 percent of the total inspections of the agency in the world has been conducted in Iran and all its released reports verify that Iran has the most transparent peaceful nuclear program among the IAEA members.

Iran has voluntarily accepted the request of the IAEA for checking probable safeguard issues. Recently Iran’s permanent representative to the IAEA has said, “The recent report of the IAEA Director General shows the steps have been taken by Iran and the international body to reach a common understanding regarding issues in question as well as finding acceptable solutions. The Islamic Republic has officially and strongly announced its stand in opposition to production and stockpile of nuclear weapon, and it has announced the necessity for full destruction of them in the world.”

By the way, all the world knows it well that this government of Iran is unwilling to act clandestinely against the western governments. Above all, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran who is the marja taqlid (literally means source of follow) of Shiites in the world in his fatwa (religious ruling) has called the production and stockpile of weapons of mass destruction as haram (forbidden). Quite the contrary,  the U.S. is currently equipped with some 6200 nuclear warheads. The Zionist regime, as the Jerusalem Post has announced, has some 100 nuclear warheads and only its 10 nuclear warheads are enough to annihilate the whole Middle East and the West Asian states, and the world has just  adopted an astonishing silence policy against this potential danger.

I recommend all conscious people in the world to launch a global campaign for combatting with this sinister phenomenon that in the current tough living Coronavirus condition, it, first, could censure and boycott this process which makes some part of the world economy realize massacre of world people, and secondly prepare protocols for replacing the tools for massacre with a logic of justice for administering the world.

 By: Hamid Reza Naghashian

The post Is Production and Stockpile of A-Bomb Economically Wise? appeared first on Iran News Daily.

The post 64th IAEA General Conference Annual Session to Be Held on Monday appeared first on Iran News Daily.

IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK

TEHRAN – Iran’s Ambassador to the Vienna-based international organizations Kazem Gharibabadi named the early July incident that took place at the Natanz facility as ‘dangerous adventurism’.

He made the remark in his report on Thursday to the seasonal session of the Board of Directors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He said that “The fact that 22 percent of the Agency’s global inspections alone is conducted in Iran, shows that Iran has the most transparent peaceful nuclear program among the Agency’s Member States. Although the Agency is supposed to focus on the current activities, however, Iran has voluntarily accepted the request by the Agency to address possible safeguards issues.”

“In this context, the Director General’s current report depicts the extra-miles which both Iran and the Agency have taken to reach a common understanding on the issues at hand, and to find satisfactory resolutions for them. We, both, are in agreement that in order to overcome possible impediments, a conducive environment should be established for it first, which certainly comes out of mutual good-faith. The current extensive level of cooperation between Iran and the Agency has not been achieved easily, and we shouldn’t allow it to be diminished simply by imprudent political interests of few.”

He said it was “noteworthy that the same legal instruments which entitle the Agency to enjoy certain rights, also identify the boundaries and limitations for the assumption of such rights. In this regard, questions or requests by the Agency should be based on convincing underlying reasons, and independent information and findings. Also, the Member States of the Agency should seriously avoid exerting any pressure against it for preserving its integrity. By considering such limitations and refraining from basing the questions and requests on allegations and fabricated documents, the grounds were ready for cooperation between Iran and the Agency. In this line, since the Agency has considered and analyzed information available to it till now, therefore, does not have any further question or requests for access to locations other than those declared by Iran.”

Furthermore, he went on “to emphasize that since few adversaries of the JCPOA could not find any issues in the recent years to destroy the JCPOA and cooperation between Iran and the Agency, they have tried in vain to build their arguments upon unfounded, baseless allegations. Nevertheless, it is upon the Board of Governors and the Agency’s Secretariat to show necessary wisdom and foresight to avoid getting entangled in their mischief.”

“It should be noted that the issues under consideration are related to the Additional Protocol in terms of requests for access; and, one should not lose sight of the fact that this Protocol is provisionally and voluntary applied by the Islamic Republic of Iran due to the JCPOA. Accordingly, I would like to note that, as quite often reiterated by the Non-Aligned Movement, there should be a clear distinction between legal obligations of Member States under their respective safeguards agreements and their voluntary undertakings, in order to ensure that such voluntary undertakings are not turned into legal safeguards obligations. In view of this, pending the resolution of these issues, they should be addressed within ongoing interaction between Iran and the Agency; therefore, there is no need for further regular reporting to the Board,” he added.

The Iranian diplomat further stressed that “The Islamic Republic of Iran places great importance on nuclear security. In this context, I would like to draw your attention to an important matter and refer to the recent explosion in Shahid Ahmadi Roushan nuclear facility (Natanz) which was the result of sabotage as already declared. We warn against any such reckless and dangerous adventurism. Such malicious acts should be condemned strongly by the Agency and its Member States. In several General Conference resolutions, it is highlighted that any armed attack and threat against nuclear facilities dedicated for peaceful purposes and are under the IAEA safeguards, is considered as the gross violation of the provisions of the UN Charter, international law and the Statute of the Agency. In addition to protecting its nuclear facilities in any way it deems necessary, Iran reserves its right to take appropriate actions against such threats. I would also like to emphasize that such malicious acts will not negatively affect Iran’s nuclear program, but will only serve as an incentive to accelerate its development.”

The post Iran Blasts “Dangerous Adventurism” Against Its Nuclear Program appeared first on Iran News Daily.

According To Iran News, Iran’s ambassador to international organizations has warned about Saudi Arabia’s covert nuclear program, urging the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to probe into the “non-transparent” program.

After some information was released about the construction of a yellow cake production facility by Riyadh, Kazem Gharibabadi asked the International Atomic Energy Agency to make the issue transparent by presenting a report to members of the world body.

He said Saudi Arabia is developing and performing a very non-transparent nuclear program.

“Although Saudi Arabia is a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and has signed a bilateral comprehensive safeguards agreement with the agency, it unfortunately keeps refusing to accept inspections by the agency,” said the top Iranian diplomat.

“Despite repeated requests by the agency over the past few years, Saudi Arabia has not reformed its obligations in such a way that would allow inspections by the agency,” he added.

He said Saudi Arabia has no operating research and power reactors, so it is pointless for the country to be seeking to produce yellow cake.

“This issue coupled with the Saudis’ covert actions in the nuclear domain and its refusal to allow IAEA inspectors to enter the country along with Riyadh’s destabilizing moves in the region will further fuel concerns about a possible covert nuclear weapons program run by the country,” he said.

The top diplomat said the international community will brook no diversion from a peaceful atomic program and will confront any such diversion.

“If Saudi Arabia seeks to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, it should live up to relevant IAEA commitments and act in a fully transparent manner,” he said.

Earlier The Wall Street Journal writes in a bombshell investigative reported, “Saudi Arabia has constructed with Chinese help a facility for extracting uranium yellowcake from uranium ore, an advance in the oil-rich kingdom’s drive to master nuclear technology, according to Western officials with knowledge of the site.”

The WSJ identified the location based on intelligence sources and unnamed Western officials as in a desert area outside al-Ula in northwest Saudi Arabia. “The facility, which hasn’t been publicly disclosed, is in a sparsely populated area in Saudi Arabia’s northwest and has raised concern among U.S. and allied officials that the kingdom’s nascent nuclear program is moving ahead and that Riyadh is keeping open the option of developing nuclear weapons,” WSJ continues.

The post Tehran Warns About Saudi Arabia’s Covert Nukes Program appeared first on Iran News Daily.

IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK

TEHRAN –  A senior Iranian official has expounded on the legal dimensions of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s access to Iran’s nuclear sites and activities.

Behrouz Kamalvandi, in an article, explained a range of issues and points with regards to the IAEA’s request for “transparency.”

“This report is being published on the threshold of a meeting of the IAEA’s Board of Governors and in the wake of the submission of a report by the IAEA’s director general to the board which resulted in the adoption of an anti-Iran resolution,” said Kamalvandi, the deputy head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and the organization’s spokesman.

“The report was drawn up by the European Troika based on forged and unsubstantiated documents and was met with serious objection from China and Russia as well as abstentions from the seven Board members, and was finally approved by the board,” he noted.

He said the IAEA director general’s new seasonal report calls for access to, and transparency on two sites in Iran.

“Accordingly, the agency, based on forged documents and intelligence gathered through spy operations by Israel, demanded access. The Islamic Republic of Iran regards these accusations as an unwarranted and illegitimate precedents and seeks to prevent the establishment of such a trend,” said the official.

Kamalvandi noted that the strongest verification system is being implemented for Iran’s nuclear activities, adding almost 20 percent of the total inspections conducted by the IAEA around the world are being carried out in Iran since the JCPOA was signed.

“Eighteen seasonal reports by the IAEA’s director general over around four years all suggest the Islamic Republic of Iran’s constructive and extensive cooperation with the agency,” he noted.

He said Iran’s giving access to the IAEA’s inspectors is a symbol of Tehran’s cooperation and full compliance with its commitments under the JCPOA, the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocol.

However, he added, the U.S. and Israel are putting the agency under pressure to once again put on the table issues pertaining to Iran’s nuclear program that have already been dealt with and are over now.

“The agency should not be used as a tool to advance the wicked policies of some governments and regimes,” he said.

Kamalvandi underlined that Iran, under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, is obliged to present to the IAEA auditing reports as well as special reports on its nuclear materials.

Meanwhile, he stressed, any demand by the IAEA for “complementary” access to Iran’s sites and materials should be coupled with relevant reasons and in accordance with the agency’s statute as well as the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements and the Additional Protocol.

“Answering the agency’s questions and giving any type of access shall be a function of legal considerations,” he said.

He once again recalled a fatwa by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei under which the production, stockpiling and use of weapons of mass destruction are religiously forbidden.

Kamalvandi urged the agency not to give credit to information obtained through spying activities or invalid sources.

The post Iran Criticizes IAEA for Relying on Baseless Claims appeared first on Iran News Daily.

According To Iran News, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on the IAEA Board of Governors not to allow the enemies of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and the world powers to “jeopardize Iran’s supreme interests”.

“BoG should not allow JCPOA enemies to jeopardize Iran’s supreme interests. E3 should not be an accessory, after failing own JCPOA duties. We’ve nothing to hide. More inspections in Iran over last 5 yrs than in IAEA history. An agreeable solution is possible, but Res will ruin it,” Zarif tweeted on Thursday.

France, Britain and Germany, all parties to Iran’s nuclear deal, have submitted a draft resolution to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors calling on Iran to stop denying the agency access to two old sites.

Iran’s ambassador to the Agency made it clear that the country would not open its territory to nuclear inspections only based on continuous allegations provided by its own enemy, even if it is evident that inspections will debunk those allegations.

“…as a matter of sovereignty, no country opens its territory to the inspections only based on continuous allegations provided by its own enemy, even if it is evident that the result of which will prove those allegations to be false. I would like to ask the Member States to put themselves in our shoes and see if they are ready simply to engage with the Agency every now and then based on unsubstantiated,” Kazem Gharibabadi said in a recent speech before the IAEA Board of Governors.

The post Zarif Urges IAEA Not to Allow JCPOA Enemies to Endanger Iran Interests appeared first on Iran News Daily.

According To Iran News, Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency made it clear that the country would not open its territory to nuclear inspections only based on continuous allegations provided by its own enemy, even if it is evident that inspections will debunk those allegations.

Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, Kazem Gharibabadi, delivered a speech before the IAEA Board of Governors on a recent report of the IAEA Director General.

What follows in the full text of his speech:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

Madam Chairperson,

Director General,

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Before beginning to deliver my statement, I would like to register the Islamic Republic of Iran’s serious concern about the possibility that the confidentiality of this meeting be compromised. Technical experts warned that undoubtedly, in this format, there is now no control over who is listening, who is recording, and who is divulging the confidential information. Let me also put on record that, just in case, the Secretariat shall be held accountable for any consequences as a result of not complying strictly with the principles of confidentiality, while Member States’ responsibility should not be ignored as well, specifically considering that such confidential information was leaked to the media and even released by some institutes. It is important that the Agency take appropriate measures to ensure protection of the confidentiality of information, including when such information is made available to the Member States.

Following the release of the current report of the DG on Friday 5 June 2020, the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran has shared some preliminary comments on this, which was circulated as INFCIRC936 on 9th of June 2020.

Madam Chairperson,

The current extensive level of cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Agency has not been achieved easily, just to be diminished by imprudent political interests. I would like to shed some light on the most important aspects of this cooperation:

• As a result of the JCPOA, Iran implements Additional Protocol provisionally and voluntarily;

• Iran, alone, with 432 inspections in 2019, receives more than 20 percent of the Agency’s

total inspections at the global level;

• Iran has granted 33 Complementary Accesses in 2019, which amounts to 73 percent of the Agency’s total CAs among States with CSA and AP in force without Broader Conclusions (62 States);

• The share of Iran’s inspections in the period of 2010 to 2019 has increased from 4 to 20 percent at the global level, and almost 7 inspectors are constantly present in Iran per day throughout the year;

• Despite difficulties the Agency faced in several States on the safeguards implementation during COVID-19 era, as reported by the DG, verification activities in Iran have been continued on a non-stop basis even by supporting charter flights, which the Agency described it as an exceptional cooperation;

• While Iran ceased the implementation of some of its commitments under the JCPOA, the Agency’s verification activities have not been affected by such remedial measures.

Madam Chairperson,

I would like to reaffirm Iran’s principal policy to engage and cooperate with the Agency in line with its obligations under the Safeguards Agreements. In view of this, the Islamic Republic of Iran acknowledges the Rights of the Agency for raising legitimate questions, seeking clarifications or requesting for access in line with its mandate and in accordance with the approved procedures, while it also underlines its rights as a Member State to seek for underlying reasons and supporting documents and argumentations from the Agency in this regard.

Iran also believes that the obligations of Member States, which reflect the Rights of the Agency, are not unlimited and are defined within the framework of the relevant instruments. The Rights of the Agency and the obligations of its Member States are two sides of a coin which are supposed to be mutually reinforcing. “Undermining the Rights of the Agency” should not be an option, nor should it be “undermining the rights of a Member State”.

Madam Chairperson,

On two requests of the Agency for access, let me brief the room on the developments since March 2020. Iran continued its constructive engagement with the Agency during past two months with a view to reach a common understanding on different aspects of the requests to pave the way for finding a solution.

In this regard, two rounds of discussions were held in Tehran on 29 April and 16 May 2020, between relevant authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the IAEA delegation headed by DDG for Safeguards, during which the two sides entered into substantive discussions on how to address the issues in a professional and conducive manner.

Iran has explicitly raised two main ambiguities and concerns, which are legal and legitimate, and completely in accordance with the provisions of CSA and AP. First, the requests by the IAEA are based on invalid and safeguards-irrelevant information which are neither publicly available (open-source information), nor valid and verifiable. Needless to say that, any information claimed to be obtained through so-called secret operation or intelligence activities and any subsequent use of them as basis for the requests are not consistent with the Agency’s Statute, thus should not have any status in the verification activities process and does not create any obligation for Iran as well. Regarding the provided information attached to the letter of 21 May 2020 of the Agency, it is emphasized that the satellite imageries presented accordingly do not contain reasonable information which could be the basis for substantiation of the Agency’s requests.

It is evident that the Agency lacks enough reasonable argumentations, for instance its report is replete with phrases such as “possible presence”, “possible use or storage”, and “possible … conduct of nuclear related activities”.

Second, Iran has also expressed its serious concerns over attempts to open an endless process of verifying and cleaning-up of ever-continuing fabricated allegations. It is noteworthy that all outstanding past issues regarding Iran’s nuclear program have been considered and closed by the Board resolution 2015/72 on 15 December 2015. In this context, I would like to express Iran’s concerns and strong opposition over the intentions to change the gear to re-open, under different pretexts, the past allegations which have already been closed.

Considering the above-mentioned legal ambiguities and concerns which still need further clarification, Iran has invited the Deputy Director General for Safeguards to Tehran for further discussions or hold a meeting in Vienna with Iranian delegation at the earliest time convenient for the Agency. In this context, and given the extensive cooperation between Iran and the Agency and significant amount of verification activities going on in Iran, its position on such non-urgent issue should not be called as “denial”.

Madam Chairperson,

While Iran expressed its readiness to continue its consultations with the Agency with a view to settle the thematic differences and resolve the issues at hand as soon as possible, the release of the current report by the Director General is received with deep regret and disappointment. While SIR 2019 enumerates various difficulties in the implementation of safeguards in several States, it is paradoxical that the Agency behaves in a way as if there is no other issue rather to report on Iran. We consider this way of conduct neither impartial nor professional, but a double-standard.

If one could look at the developments after March around these two issues, it is clear that a good progress was made, and it is unfair and non-factual to say that we are still at the same place as before. Needless to say that, Iran stated its willingness “to satisfy the Agency’s requests as it did in the past” even before this Board’s meeting, when its two main concerns are addressed. However, ignorance of the legitimate concerns raised, non-provision of underlying reasons to justify such requests, and seeking systematically and mechanistically for access by the Agency, should have not been an option.

As the distinguished delegates may remind, it was stated in the Technical Briefings that these allegations date back to more than 17 years ago, have not been proved, do not enjoy any urgency, and do not pose any risk of proliferation; it was also said that one of the two locations is a farm and the other a desert. Possibly you may ask why Iran does not grant access to the two locations automatically. The answer is clear: as a matter of sovereignty, no country opens its territory to the inspections only based on continuous allegations provided by its own enemy, even if it is evident that the result of which will prove those allegations to be false. I would like to ask the Member States to put themselves in our shoes and see if they are ready simply to engage with the Agency every now and then based on unsubstantiated

allegations made by their adversaries?!

Madam Chairperson,

Since the report of the Director General also refers to the uranium metal production experiments carried out at JHL, I would like to inform that the Agency has totally disregarded all past relevant verification activities including its previous report on the reevaluation and assessment regarding possible discrepancy, documented as GOV/2015/68.

This report affirms that {and I quote}: “Agency re-evaluated this information in 2014 and assessed that the amount of natural uranium involved was within the uncertainties associated with nuclear material accountancy and related measurements” (and I unquote). It should be also added that the relevant material of the project is kept under the Agency’s seal since the first day of verification in 2003.

Madam Chairperson,

Let me emphasize once again that the current level of cooperation between Iran and the Agency is exemplary, some of the aspects of which I have elucidated here in my statement. It is upon all of us to be the guardian of such a source of pride for all, including the Agency and the Member States. And, we should stand united against those who wish to destroy this for scoring purely short-sighted political points. This responsibility cannot be shouldered by Iran alone, and it is upon all of us to bear the brunt of any negative impacts if it is derailed. Merely saying that the issues related to the Safeguards are separate from the JCPOA is totally wrong. One should not forget that the extensive amount of complementary accesses and inspections in Iran are conducted as a result of provisional and voluntary application of the AP under the JCPOA. Even these two requests by the Agency for access are made thanks to such an application.

To conclude, Madam Chairperson, many, including the Secretariat are saying that respecting the mandate of the Agency and the safeguards regime should not be compromised.

The Islamic Republic of Iran agrees with this principle wholeheartedly, and believes that the secretariat itself as the custodian of this holy shrine, should place itself at the forefront of this campaign by adhering strictly to the provisions of Statute of the Agency and the Safeguards Agreements. “Respect” and “trust” are established during times, but could be shattered in a matter of seconds. The Islamic Republic of Iran would like to reiterate its confidence that the implementation of the verification activities requires both sides to cooperate in good-faith. In view of this, Iran strongly calls upon the Secretariat and Members of the Agency to show wisdom and vigilance in dealing with this and avoid entering into any hasty proceedings. Any political approach or decision through abusing the Board will certainly undermine the current level of cooperation between Iran and the Agency, the responsibility and consequences of which will be upon its sponsors.

In this context, the Agency is highly requested to carry out its mandate in a professional, independent and impartial manner. Any undue pressure or interference in the Agency’s activities especially in its verification process, in pursuance of any political agenda, will jeopardize its efficiency and credibility, and is counterproductive, thus should be deplored and rejected.

Madam Chairperson,

I would like to put on record the position of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the draft resolution proposed by E2+1 (France, Germany and the UK) on the NPT Safeguards Agreement of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has the highest level of cooperation with the Agency and receives the highest level of complementary accesses amongst the Agency Member States.

Despite the fact that the Agency carries out more than 33 complementary accesses in Iran annually, aggrandization of the Agency’s two requests and attempts to create an unnecessary crisis in this regard, while Iran has principal concerns and ambiguities on this and the discussions are ongoing, is counterproductive. We expect that the Members of the Board recognize this level of cooperation between Iran and the Agency in order for maintaining the grounds for the continuation of such exemplary cooperation between the two.

In this context, Iran strongly deplores the move by the E3 to follow such a path which has nothing to do with the technical facts on the ground, but is the result of biased, non-professional and political agenda. The E3 States are expected to comply with their obligations under the JCPOA, than to complicate more the situation.

Let me emphasize once again, Madam Chairperson, that the current level of cooperation between Iran and the Agency is exemplary, on many aspects, some of which I have elucidated here in my statement. It is upon all of us to be the guardian of such a source of pride for all, including the Agency and the Member States. And, we should stand united against those who wish to destroy this for scoring purely political points. This responsibility cannot be shouldered by Iran alone, and it is upon all of us to bear the brunt of any negative impacts if it is derailed.

In view of this, Iran strongly urges the Members of the Agency to show wisdom and vigilance in dealing with this and requests to object to such an irresponsible act. We invite the Members of the Board to vote against the draft resolution which its main objective is to meet the political agenda of some.

Madam Chairperson,

Since some allegations were made under this agenda item, I feel obliged to react as follows:

1. The US does not shy to express publicly its intention to destroy the JCPOA. Iran has always underlined that the US continued destructive policies will be detrimental to the stability and security in the Middle East region and beyond. The unlawful coercive measures by the US administration against Iran allude to the fact that this administration shows zero respect for norms and principles of international law and relations. Transparent and constructive cooperation between Iran and the Agency during the past 4 years of life of the JCPOA was a serious blow to such US unlawful policies and shattered its hopes for attaining its illegitimate political objectives which was the collapse of the JCPOA. That is the main reason that in coalition with the Israeli regime they planned to take a different path but with the same political objective. In this new approach, they have raised seemingly some allegations which are actually re-opening of the past issues that were closed by the Board’s Resolution in 15 December 2015.

The Reports of the Agency testifies that Iran is compliant with all its commitments regarding non-proliferation, while the US didn’t even take a small step for the implementation of its obligation under Article VI of the NPT for nuclear disarmament. The US Nuclear Posture Review is also another evidence of the continuation of its aggressive nuclear approach. It has even used this weapon against another State, threatens the other countries with the possible use of it, is heavily investing in undermining multilateral frameworks, sanctions the officials of international organizations and courts if they are not walking in the same line as the US, opts out of the multilateral entities or cuts its contribution shares in some of them to intimidate them against the anti-US policies and measures. In this context, I would like to ask the Members of the Agency one serious question: who is honoring its international commitments, Iran or the US? We should not let the US to abuse the international organizations as a disposable political tool for its own one-sided interests. Unfortunately, the US is accustomed to such behavior and if any international organization tends to react otherwise in line with its mandate, it’ll be disposed with a famous phrase of Donald Trump “you are fired!”

2. Saudi Arabia complains about the transparency in Iran’s nuclear activities; isn’t it strange? The tail is wagging the dog! KSA, as a country with a very non-transparent nuclear programme, might be able to buy silence for its current situation, but it cannot hide it forever. One does not need to go very far, just go and read the SIR 2019! KSA is a party to the NPT and has a bilateral Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) in force with the IAEA, but regrettably it still has a so-called Small Quantities Protocol (SQP) in force that exempts the country from the obligation of hosting IAEA safeguards inspections.

It is also regrettable that despite the Agency’s repeated requests for many years, KSA has not yet accepted the updated model SQP which limits the eligibility of states for the SQP.

And, sadly, this fact is not reported by the Agency to the Board yet, even in the midst of the perceived clear threat by the KSA official to obtain nuclear weapons. The Agency and its Member States must make it clear to Saudi Arabia that the international community will not tolerate any deviation from a peaceful nuclear programme.

3. The Israeli regime delegate reiterated its baseless allegations. It is ridiculous that this regime which is not a member of any arms control and disarmament instruments, has not opened any of its nuclear installations to the Agency’s inspection, and possesses all categories of WMDs, asked Iran to cooperate closely with the Agency and provide it with access based on the allegations. This regime spared no efforts to aggrandize and manipulate this situation including through producing fabricated information to mislead the Agency and the public. The indefensible record of this regime in non-accession to and noncompliance with all international norms and standards in the area of non-proliferation and disarmament, leaves it with no option but to clean its dirty hands by blaming the others.

The representative of such a regime is in no position to preach others on something they do not respect themselves.

4. We are really wondering if Ukraine is genuine in its intervention on Iran’s related items! If our Ukrainian colleague could spare some time and take a look at the SIR 2019, it might have understood thus far that in case the Agency wanted to pursue strictly its impartiality and professionalism, it would have reported a change in Ukraine’s status with regard to the implementation of safeguards. There is no doubt that running against the wind would fan the flames of a fire.

I thank you Madam Chairperson.

The post Iran Not to Allow IAEA Inspection Based on Enemey Allegations appeared first on Iran News Daily.